§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the sinking of a Spanish ship in the Firth of Forth with 850 tons of nitric acid.
§ Mr. Cranley OnslowI have been asked to reply.
The Spanish mv "Metanol", of 803 gross registered tons, sank in the Firth of Forth on 5th January. All her crew were saved. My Department had been informed that the vessel was anchored and listing and the necessary steps to warn shipping, including buoying, were taken. The cause of the casualty is not known for certain but the vessel was loaded with 831 tonnes of nitric acid and fumes bad been emitting from the vent pipes before the vessel was abandoned.
It is believed that some 91 tonnes of acid has escaped but frequent monitoring of the acid level in surrounding water has shown no significant increase. The remainder of the cargo is contained in stainless steel tanks and not expected to leak. The vessel is being surveyed with a view to salvage.